So much material has accumulated in the yard of a residence on Greig Ave. that it now poses a fire hazard to the home and to neighbours, Terrace city council has decided to issue an order that it must be removed.
But city officials have also cautioned that the cleanup will not be easy based on previous conversations with the property owner and earlier attempts at removing the material.
A chronology of events provided to council by city officials cites numerous times beginning in 2017 of trying to convince property owner to remove the material.
First complaints centered around an offensive smell from homemade fertilizer being manufactured but soon elevated to a growing amount of flammable and other material both in the yard and then on the boulevard at the front of the property.
At one point a fine was issued but the chronology of events does not indicate if it was ever paid.
“The property definitely poses a significant fire hazard as noted in the appendix from our fire chief,” noted city development services director David Block in outlining key aspects to council May 27.
He said so much material has now been piled up in the yard that city bylaw officer Skylar Williams could not even gain access just recently in an attempt to take photos to add to the city file.
Property owners must comply with a clean-up order 30 days after it is issued but can appeal within 14 days of the order issue date.
Councillor Brian Downie asked Block to flesh out a reference in his report to council that there may be problems inside the residence.
“I believe there may be some issues within the dwelling, but we’re primarily dealing with the exterior because that’s the portion with the impact on adjacent properties and also first responders being able to actually enter the yard safely if there was an emergency or fire,” Block responded.
Councillor Dave Gordon said he has personal knowledge of the property and owner, indicating that the property owner “probably thinks everything on the property is a treasure and useful.”
“It’s going to be really hard for this person to move all this stuff along,” he added.
Councillor Sarah Zimmerman wanted to know if there was the possibility of having an agency other than the city help the owner along.
Block said other agencies have already been involved without success but that a further attempt would be made should the city have to remove the material itself.
